How to choose a wedding ring

What should you bear in mind when choosing a wedding ring? Top tips from jewellers

Choosing a wedding ring is one of the most personal and lasting decisions you’ll make in the run-up to your wedding. The ring should not only suit your style, but also stand the test of time for everyday wear for the rest of your life! Bröllopsguiden has asked a number of jewellers and jewellery designers to share their top tips on choosing a wedding ring and wedding jewellery.

01. Choose your wedding ring and engagement ring together

Master goldsmith Stig Granlund, Atelier Ajour in Stockholm
: ‘The wedding ring is worn alongside the engagement ring, and they must complement each other just as a married couple does. The choice is made at the time of the engagement. And deciding together is wise!
– Go to a jeweller who can design the rings that suit you best. Don’t be swayed by trends; both your rings and your marriage should be designed to last a lifetime.”Aniara” is Atelier Ajour’s own alliance ring. It is made to order in red or white gold and set with Flanders-cut diamonds.

02. It’s important to set a budget!

Master goldsmith Kristina Johansson, KJ Design in Alingsås: “Think
carefully about how much the rings can cost! We goldsmiths work with a price range spanning from 8,000 kronor to several hundred thousand.” It’s important that we don’t base our calculations on the wrong ring model and stones – in other words, ones that are too expensive or, indeed, too cheap. Do you have your own gold? That’s crucial to the cost.
– Once the above is sorted, the model, design and stones usually fall into place.
– One thing worth bearing in mind is to choose something that stands out in terms of design, or perhaps just has a small splash of colour. With us goldsmiths, the possibilities are endless. Feel free to choose something that stands out in terms of design.

03. Quality lasts the longest

Master goldsmith Suzanne Färnert, Färnert Guldsmeder in Uppsala
:- Choose the wedding ring you personally like – don’t follow trends or what others think
.- Don’t buy rhodium-plated rings; the rhodium plating wears off within six months.
– Rings that are to be worn side by side should have straight sides.
– Avoid online shopping as it’s not possible to resize them afterwards.
– Think a little about your job – what can you wear at work?
– Choose a smaller but good-quality stone – quality lasts the longest.
– Don’t buy artificially manufactured stones; their value is zero the moment they leave the shop.
– Choose your ring size when you’re at a comfortable temperature – not sweaty, but not freezing either
.- Don’t try on rings whilst you’re pregnant
.- If you’re on a tight budget, you can have stones set in later
.- Ask a jeweller for advice on your choice of ring.

What tips do you have for other wedding jewellery?

– When choosing jewellery, remember that ‘less is more’.
– Don’t have too many details on your dress; try to see the overall look and avoid too many details.
– Ask someone you trust for advice if you’re unsure
.- Feel free to wear something you’ve inherited if it feels right
.- The church often has a tiara you can borrow – give it a go! A wedding ring with space for an engagement ring, available in both white and red gold and set with a diamond.

04. Think quality – and your lifestyle

Dannie Larsson, Rare Jewelry: ‘I
think you should prioritise quality. A high-quality diamond will last forever. Also bear in mind that the design should stand the test of time. You’ll never tire of a classic wedding ring. That said, you can always add a detail to make the ring more unique. We usually set diamonds along the edge or to the side of the centre stone, and so on. – Also, choose
a ring that suits your lifestyle. You shouldn’t have to take your ring off just because you’re going to the gym. If you lead an active life, the ring should also be able to withstand these stresses. This often means a sturdier ring with stronger prongs and so on.

What are your top tips for brides when it comes to styling their wedding dress?

-I always choose jewellery first and then match the outfit to it, rather than the other way round. Personally, I think you should choose a dress that shows off the jewellery to its best advantage. That means avoiding outfits with too many details that might detract from the jewellery. It can easily end up looking a bit ‘over the top’ or too flashy. If you go for a clean, simple design in your jewellery, you can definitely be a bit more daring with your outfit.

05. Choose with your heart

Patrik Hansson, Patrik Hansson Jewellery in Uppsala
: “My best tip for choosing a wedding ring would probably be to choose as you would when choosing a partner: choose with your heart something you’ll want to wear on your hand for many years to come.”

What’s your top tip for other wedding jewellery?

– Personally, I think stylish, understated diamond earrings look lovely at a wedding.

06. Natural diamonds and black pearls

Lotta Torstensson, Goldbar Jewellery & Design in Stockholm
:– I recommend large natural diamonds for wedding and engagement rings, and this is something my wedding clients really appreciate. Large, beautiful stones bring joy to the wearer for years to come, and as long as they receive an annual check-up by an expert, they’ll sparkle just as brightly as love does, year in, year out.

07. What are your top tips for the bride when it comes to styling her wedding dress?

– Classic earrings with Akoya pearls or slightly larger South Sea pearls are always the right choice for a white or cream-coloured wedding dress. Don’t forget that there are plenty of ways to wear them if you don’t like the pearls sitting directly on the earlobe. I can show you how, and you can add a couple of diamonds to the slightly larger pearls to create a pair of stunning earrings that you’ll cherish for many years to come.
– Black pearls are exciting! They come in natural shades ranging from silver to green-grey/grey-blue to completely black.
– I’ll work with you to look at the bride’s own colours – that is, her eye colour, hair, wedding dress and so on – and match them with the perfect shade of pearls to create a beautiful setting that brings out her own personality.

08. The ring should suit your lifestyle

Anette Roxnäs, ETENA jewellery & design in Stockholm
: – The ring – or rings – should suit your lifestyle. I once had a customer who fell in love with a gorgeous white gold ring set with lots of brilliant-cut diamonds. She really wanted it, but she often worked in Africa on humanitarian issues, so it didn’t fit in with her circumstances. In the end, she chose a plain ring that was much more discreet. Just as beautiful – and the message was the same
. ‘Feel free to choose a ring that isn’t too thin, in terms of its height. It can certainly be narrow, but not too thin in terms of height, as that limits your options a bit if you eventually want to alter the ring – for example, if you want to add more diamonds or with a second ring in mind – after all, you want both to go together. So, a little height on the ring gives you plenty of options!
– Think ahead even whilst you’re looking at engagement rings. What do you want your wedding ring to look like? Choose a ring that isn’t too thin in terms of its height; it’ll give you more options. Etena Design.

09. Be bold with coloured gemstones

Bartek Dziennik, BD Juvelateljé in Stockholm:
– Find out what you like and dare to choose a design that suits your style, not just the latest trends.
– Dare to use coloured gemstones in your wedding ring – everyone has ‘their’ colour. Be bold with colour!

When looking at diamonds, people often talk about the four Cs (Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat). To find out more about how diamonds are graded, you can read more at the GIA (Gemological Institute of America)

If you’re looking for rings, you’ll find a wide selection of excellent jewellers in our business directory